U.S. patent number 10,098,428 [Application Number 15/360,920] was granted by the patent office on 2018-10-16 for horizontal rotating spineboard washer.
The grantee listed for this patent is Izak Van der Merwe. Invention is credited to Izak Van der Merwe.
United States Patent |
10,098,428 |
Van der Merwe |
October 16, 2018 |
Horizontal rotating spineboard washer
Abstract
A rotating spine board washer which utilizes a rotisserie style
racking system that allows multiple spine boards to be configured
into a tube shape. The tube shaped rack is connected to a motor
that rotates the rack 360 degrees repeatedly. Located inside and
outside of the hollow tube shaped rack are manifolds that run the
length of the rack, with a plurality of spray nozzles located along
the manifolds which direct wash solution at the inward facing
surface and outward facing surface of the spine boards as they
rotate around the fixed spray nozzles.
Inventors: |
Van der Merwe; Izak (Tampa,
FL) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Van der Merwe; Izak |
Tampa |
FL |
US |
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Family
ID: |
58776647 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/360,920 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20170151587 A1 |
Jun 1, 2017 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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62260310 |
Nov 26, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C
11/00 (20130101); B08B 3/022 (20130101); A45F
5/00 (20130101); A45C 13/002 (20130101); A45C
2011/001 (20130101); A45C 2011/002 (20130101); A45C
2011/003 (20130101); A45C 2200/15 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B08B
3/02 (20060101); A45C 11/00 (20060101); A45C
13/00 (20060101); A45F 5/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Carrillo; Sharidan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Luby; Justin
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to provisional application U.S.
Ser. No. 62/260,310 filed Nov. 26, 2015. Said application is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for cleaning spine boards comprising: installing one or
more spine boards in a horizontal hollow tubular rack which will
hold the spine boards in fixed position while said rack can be
rotated; running at least one fixed position spray manifold
horizontally inside of said hollow tubular rack with a plurality of
nozzles directed at the spine boards; running at least one fixed
position spray manifold horizontally outside of said hollow tubular
rack with a plurality of nozzles directed at the spine boards;
supplying said inside and outside spray manifolds with a
pressurized wash solution to effectively remove contaminates from
the spine boards; rotating said rack and spine boards between said
inside and outside spray manifolds until said wash solution has
removed the contaminates from the surface of the spine boards.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to medical transport
boards, sometimes referred to as spine boards, and, more
particularly, to an apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting such
boards.
BACKGROUND
Medical transport boards are boards that are generally used by
emergency medical personnel for transporting accident victims.
These boards, which are sometimes referred to as spine boards, are
typically made of plastic, fiberglass, or other synthetic material
and are designed to be lightweight but strong, stiff boards that
prevent movement of a person strapped to the board during transport
of the person.
Since these boards are commonly used to transport accident victims,
the boards are frequently contaminated with blood or other body
fluids and must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each
use. Historical methods of cleaning such boards include spraying
the boards with water, soap solutions, disinfectants and manually
scrubbing the boards by hand to remove any material on the
boards.
A typical emergency rescue vehicle, such as an ambulance, will
carry 4 spine boards onboard. In between operations it is important
that these 4 boards can be cleaned rapidly so that the rescue
vehicle is available for immediate usage if needed.
Recent trends have migrated towards utilizing automated wash
systems to clean such boards between uses. The earliest entry into
the field of automated spine board washing utilized stationary
racks to hold and support the spine boards, and stationary spray
nozzles directed at the spine boards in the racks. The spray
nozzles are supplied a high pressure cleaning solution through a
pumping system, which when directed towards the boards, impinges
the blood or other body fluids from the surface of the boards.
Advantages of this type of automated washing system are that it can
be configured to wash multiple boards at a time. However, the
disadvantage is that due to space constraints, the equipment is
unable to impinge 100% of the spine board surface areas, therefore
leading to ineffective cleaning.
A subsequent embodiment of the automated spine board washer
utilized rotating spray arms in place of stationary nozzles on
racking systems. The advantage of the rotating spray arms is that
they are less expensive to construct and utilize because could
effectively clean a spine board using less fewer nozzles and less
water. The disadvantage of the rotating spray arms is that they
consumed more space than the nozzles, and therefore, fewer spine
boards could be cleaned simultaneously, again, creating longer than
ideal wash times.
Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus that is functional to
clean a plurality of spine boards simultaneously while effectively
impinging 100% of surface areas of the spine boards.
Additionally, there is a need for an apparatus that is functional
to clean a plurality of spine board simultaneously in a short
period of time.
Additionally, there is a need for an apparatus that is functional
to clean a plurality of spine board simultaneously that requires a
small footprint.
SUMMARY
The present invention addresses the shortcomings of prior art
attempts to automate the cleaning of spine boards by providing a
cleaning system that rotates a plurality of spine boards around a
plurality stationary spray nozzles creating a cleaning system that
effectively impinges 100% of the surfaces of multiple spine boards
simultaneously, creating a cleaning system the is more effective
and efficient than it predecessors.
The rotating spine board washer of the present invention utilizes a
rotisserie style racking system that allows multiple spine boards
to be configured into a square tube shape. The square tube shaped
rack is connected to a motor that rotates the rack 360 degrees
repeatedly.
Located inside and outside of the hollow square tube shaped rack
are manifolds that run the length of the rack, with a plurality of
spray nozzles located along the manifolds which direct wash
solution at the inside and outside of the spine boards which create
the square tube shape.
Pumps supply high pressure wash solution to the nozzles through the
manifolds which impinge wash solution against the rotating spine
boards as they travel through the path of spray with sufficient
force and flow to clean and disinfect the entire surface of the
spine board.
The entire assembly is contained within a watertight housing unit,
which contains the wash solution during the automated cycle is
operating. The housing contains a single door whereby spine boards
can be installed and removed from the rotisserie style racking
system before and after cleaning. Usage of a single door for
loading and unloading allow for the equipment to utilize a smaller
footprint for operation than other units that have separate loading
and unloading locations.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present
invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the
drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as
being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of
the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view drawing of the assembled
rotating spine board washer with a representation of the spine
board rack;
FIG. 2 illustrates a front view cross-sectional drawing of the
assembled rotating spine board washer with a representation of the
spine board rack;
FIG. 3 illustrates frontal view of the rotating spine board washer
assembly depicting the spray coverage of the nozzles;
FIG. 4 illustrates side view of a flow diagram of the rotating
spine board washer assembly;
FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view drawing of a square rack
support frame, and bearing block support frame;
FIG. 6 illustrates right side perspective view drawing of the spine
board rack.
FIG. 7 illustrates a front view drawing of the spine board
rack.
FIG. 8 illustrates left side perspective view drawing of the spine
board rack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rotating spine board washer of the
present invention includes a housing 1 with a hinged lid 2. The
housing is divided into an upper wash compartment 3, a lower pump
compartment 4 and side compartments for piping and drive motor 5.
The upper wash compartment 3 provides a watertight enclosure for
cleaning the spine boards 6, while lower pump compartment stores a
recirculation pump 7, for circulating a cleaning and disinfecting
fluid (disinfectant) into upper wash compartment 3. The housing may
be made of a variety of materials, including stainless steel
(preferred), aluminum, or plastic.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 & 4, the lower compartment 4 houses a
pump 7 which is used to pressurize and circulate the wash solution.
Wash solution is drawn into the pump from the reservoir 8 on the
underside of the wash chamber 3 and is discharged into piping that
feeds the spray manifolds 9, 10, 11 that will be detailed later in
this application. While in the preferred embodiment of the
invention the pump 7 is a 3 horsepower centrifugal pump, the pump
could be any size and type which can deliver sufficient flow and
pressure wash solution to effectively clean the spine boards 6. In
addition to pump sizing, it is also preferred that the pump 7 be
constructed of stainless steel or materials that are rust and
chemical resistant so that is does not rust or deteriorate with the
wash solution used to clean the spine boards 6.
As shown in FIGS. 1,2, & 3, the piping 12 from the outlet of
the pump services 3 manifolds 9, 10, 11 located in the upper wash
chamber 3. The manifolds 9, 10, 11 in the upper wash chamber 3 are
located above 9, below 10, and through the center 11 of the spine
board rack 13. While the preferred embodiment of the invention
utilizes 3 manifolds 9, 10, 11 placed in the above described
locations, it is contemplated in this invention that any number of
manifold could be utilized and these manifolds could be placed in
any arrangement within the upper wash chamber 3 that can
effectively clean the spine boards 6. In addition to manifold
location, it is also preferred that the piping 12 and manifolds 9,
10, 11 be constructed of stainless steel or materials that are rust
and chemical resistant so that is does not deteriorate with the
wash solution used to clean the spine boards 6.
As shown in FIGS. 2 & 3, there is a drain line 14 and two
valves 15, 16 installed in the piping from the outlet of the pump 7
which services the 3 manifolds 9, 10, 11. This drain line 14 allows
the wash solution to be drained from the machine after use.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 & 3, the manifolds 9, 10, 11 traverse
the width of the upper wash chamber 3. Located throughout the
length of the manifolds are a plurality of spray nozzles 17. The
spray nozzles 17 direct and disperse wash solution at the spine
boards 6 with sufficient flowrate and pressure to effectively clean
the spine boards 6. In the preferred embodiment the nozzles 17
disperses wash solution in a fan pattern 18. As depicted in FIG. 3,
in the preferred embodiment the quantity, design, and arrangement
of the nozzles 17 ideally should be such that during operation that
the nearly the all surfaces of the spine board 6 are directly
impinged by wash solution from the nozzles 17.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, & 3, located in the upper wash chamber
3 is a square tube shaped spine board rack 13 where spine boards 6
can be installed into the rotating spine board washer for cleaning.
Once installed, the spine boards 6 will rotate around and between
the center spray manifold 11 and the two outer spray manifolds 9
& 10, located in the upper and lower sections of the upper wash
chamber 3. During operation of the washer, the manifolds 9, 10, 11
and nozzles 17 will remain fixed, with a high pressure output of
cleaning solution focused at a particular location, and the
rotation of the rack 13 will move the spine boards 6 in front of
the high pressure spray 18 from the nozzles 17.
Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, & 8, at either end of the spine board
rack 13 which holds the spine boards 6 is an end piece 19. The
purpose of the end pieces 19 are to prove support to the individual
spine board holders 20 as well as the bearings 21 which will be
installed in the center of the end piece 19, allowing the rack to
rotate around the center manifold 11. Referring to FIG. 3, the
purpose of one of the end pieces 19 on the side of the drive motor
22 is located also to provide an sprocket 23 where a drive motor 22
can be connected to and provide motive force to rotate the rack
13.
The preferred embodiment uses a square tube shaped rack 13 that
cleans four spine boards 6 at a time because the size/cost
efficiency combination that the square tube shaped rack 13 creates
is ideal for commercial efficacy. Additionally, the size is ideal
because the typical emergency rescue vehicle will carry four spine
boards 6 onboard, therefore, your typical load size would be four
boards. However, any multitude of rack shapes could be used, such
as a triangular shaped tube or a hexagonal shaped tube. The only
constraint is that the shape and placement of the rack and spray
manifolds allow for nozzles 17 impinge both the inside and outside
of the spine boards 6 when installed in the rack.
Referring to FIG. 5, the end piece 19 is comprised of an outer
square 24, a smaller square inner 25, and four support pieces 26
that center and support the inner square 25 inside of the outer
square 24. In the preferred embodiment all of the components of the
end pieces 19 are constructed of stainless steel, due to its rust
and corrosion resistance, as well as its machine-ability. However,
the components of the end pieces 19 could be constructed of any
materials known to those skilled in the art that could be used to
create a sound structure that would also be sufficiently rust and
corrosion resistant.
Referring to FIG. 5 throughout the outer square there are a
plurality of holes 27 drilled through the component. The function
of these holes 27 is to allow the individual spine board holders 20
to be bolted to the end pieces 19. In the preferred embodiment the
individual spine board holders 20 are bolted to the end pieces 19,
however, this could be achieved through welding, riveting, or any
other method known to those skilled in the art.
Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, & 8, affixed to one of the end pieces
is a sprocket 23. The sprocket will be used to transfer rotational
speed from the drive motor 22 via chain drive 28. In the preferred
embodiment all of the sprocket 23 is constructed of stainless
steel, due to its rust and corrosion resistance, as well as its
machine-ability. However, the sprocket 23 could be constructed of
any materials known to those skilled in the art that could be used
to create a sound structure that would also be sufficiently rust
and corrosion resistant.
The preferred embodiment utilizes a sprocket 23 and chain drive 28
system to transfer rotational force from the motor to the rotating
rack due to its cost effectiveness and low maintenance. However,
this transfer of force could be achieved through a belt and pulley
system, direct drive system, or any other method known to those
skilled in the art.
Located in and affixed to the inner square 24 of each of the end
pieces is a square pillow block bearing 21. Running through the
center of the pillow block bearing 21 is the center spray manifold
11 coming from the pump. The pillow block bearing 21 allows the
manifold 11 to remain stationary in the upper wash compartment 3
while spine board rack 13 is able to independently rotate around
the center manifold 11 and nozzles 17, thereby assuring that the
entire inner surface of the spine boards 6 is impinged with
cleaning solution. In the preferred embodiment the pillow block
bearing 21 is constructed of a stainless steel housing with delrin
inserts, due to its rust and corrosion resistance, as well as its
machine-ability. However, the pillow block bearing 21 could be
constructed of any materials known to those skilled in the art that
could be used to create a smooth rotational motion that would also
be sufficiently rust and corrosion resistant.
Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, & 8 traversing between each of the
four sides of the two end pieces 19 are four individual spine board
holders 20. Each individual spine board holder 20 is comprised of a
frame base 30, two (2) frame ends 31, two (2) frame sides 32, a
frame top 33. Additionally, one of the frame sides 32 in each of
the spine board holders 20 is hinged to allow the holder 20 to be
opened and closed to insert and remove spine boards 6. In the
preferred embodiment the frame base 30, two (2) frame ends 31, two
(2) frame sides 32, a frame top 33 are all constructed of 1/4 inch
diameter wire coil. The use of wire coil is preferred to solid
metal because the coil will allow wash solution to permeate through
it to the edges of the spine boards it is covering, allowing for
more effective cleaning. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment
all of these components are constructed of stainless steel, due to
its rust and corrosion resistance, simple drain-ability as well as
its machine-ability. However, these components of the could be
constructed of any materials known to those skilled in the art that
could be used to create a sound structure that would also be
sufficiently rust and corrosion resistant.
In the preferred embodiment the individual spine board holders 20
are constructed by bending and notching the wire coil on blocks and
the seam welding each of the corners to add rigidity to the
structures. While other methods known to those skilled in the art,
such as bolting or riveting could be used to construct these
structures, this method is preferred due to its low cost of
materials and ease of implementation.
Referring to FIGS. 2 & 3, in the side compartment 5, a motor 22
is mounted on the exterior of the wash chamber 3. The shaft 34 of
the motor 22 will protrude through a seal and into the upper wash
chamber 3. On the end of the motor shaft 34 will be mounted a
sprocket 35, which will be attached to the aforementioned sprocket
23 on the end piece via a chain 28. The motor speed and the ratio
of the diameter of the sprockets 35 on the motor to the diameter of
the sprocket 23 on the end piece 19 must all be sized
proportionally to create the desired rotational speed of the spine
board rack 13.
To operate the rotating spine board washer, the operator must first
open the hinged lid 2 on the housing 1 and manually rotate the rack
13 into a position where he can install a spine board 6 into an
individual spine board holder 20. Once in place the operator will
open the hinged frame side 32. Once open, the spine board 6 can be
installed into the individual spine board holder 20, and the hinged
frame side 32 of the individual spine board holder 20 can be
closed. The operator will then repeat this procedure 3 more times
for the remaining available individual spine board holders 20.
Once the spine boards 6 have been loaded into rotating spine board
washer (or before, the order of operations at this point is not
critical), the operators will mix a predetermined amount of wash
solution into a bucket or other apparatus and pour it into the wash
compartment 3 through the hinged lid 2. There should be sufficient
amount of wash solution to maintain a prime on the pump 7 when the
equipment is operating.
Once the spine boards 6 and wash solution have been loaded into the
equipment the operator will start the pump 7 and the motor 22
driving the rotation of the rack 13. The operator will allow the
equipment to continue to operate for a predetermined amount of time
which the operator believes from experience is sufficient to
effectively clean the amount and type of materials which are
contaminating the spine boards.
Once the predetermined amount of time has passed, the operator will
turn off the motor 22 driving the rotation of the rack. The
operator will then close the valve 15 which supplies wash solution
to the manifolds 9, 10, 11 and will open the valve 16 to the drain
line 14, while the pump is running. This will evacuate the
contaminated wash solution from the washer. Once all of the
contaminated wash solution has been evacuated, the pump 7 will be
turned off, the valve 16 to the drain line 14 closed, and the valve
15 to the manifolds 9, 10, 11 supply line opened.
At this point the wash cycle is complete and the spine boards 6 can
be removed in a similar manner as they were installed, or
additional wash/rinse cycles can be run in a similar manner, as
required.
In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a pre-programmed
circuit board or logic controller can be used to automate start and
stop of the wash cycle, pump 7 and motor 22, as well as opening and
closing of valves 15, 16 to remove the requirement for operator
intervention during the cleaning process.
In another alternate embodiment of the invention, pumps will be
utilized to deliver water and detergent/disinfectant into the
washer, to remove the need for the operator to manually fill the
washer before and during cleaning cycles.
It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various
changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated
embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present
invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be
covered by the appended claims.
* * * * *